Malaysian PM back defence links with VN

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed that the Government and he personally support the enhancement of the defence partnership with Việt Nam to propel the bilateral friendship and multi-faceted cooperation forward.

Minister of Defence, General Ngô Xuân Lịch (R) meets Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur. — VNA/VNS Photo Hòang Nhương

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed that the Government and he personally support the enhancement of the defence partnership with Việt Nam to propel the bilateral friendship and multi-faceted co-operation forward. 

He made the remark yesterday at a reception for the Minister of Defence, General Ngô Xuân Lịch, in Kuala Lumpur. 
Stronger defence collaboration at sea between the two countries would help maintain solidarity and the central and leading role of ASEAN for regional peace, stability and development, he said. 
Minister Lịch said Việt Nam always gives priority to reinforcing and furthering the friendly co-operative ties and trust between Việt Nam and Malaysia. 
He added that Việt Nam’s Ministry of National Defence would continue working closely and effectively with the Malaysian counterpart to enhance the two countries’ relations. 
Earlier on Wednesday, he had talks with Malaysian Minister of Defence Hishammuddin Hussein, during which the two sides agreed that there is a plenty of room for the bilateral defence co-operation. 
They were unanimous in several measures to increase high-level delegation exchanges, information and experience sharing in the fields of their strengths, step up co-operation in training, military medicine and the defence industry, and promote connectivity between research institutes on strategic issues. 
The two ministers agreed to boost consultation at multilateral forums with the purpose of cementing trust and affiliation among nations in and outside the region as well as support each other at multilateral defence events in ASEAN. 
To promptly exchange strategic issues and accelerate the implementation of the defence co-operation plan in the coming time, the two sides concurred to soon establishing consultation and dialogue mechanisms. 
The ministers also discussed issues of mutual concern and agreed that the region is facing a number of complicated security challenges that need to be addressed by countries’ joint efforts based on international law and standards. 
During his official visit to Malaysia from October 25-27 to promote the friendship, mutual understanding and trust between the two countries’ armies and people, Minister Lịch also visited the Vietnamese Embassy and the overseas Vietnamese community in the host country. – VNS